An atmospheric river is combining with a once-in-a-decade bomb cyclone on the West Coast of the U.S. and has taken the lives of two women: one in a homeless encampment and one in the shower of her home. Both women died as a result of a fallen tree.
Hurricane force winds, excessive rainfall and snow are striking though out the Pacific Northwest and Canada’s British Columbia. Wind gusts reached a high of 101 mph in Canada and up to 80 mph in the U.S. Snowfall could reach up to 15 inches in the Sierra Nevada areas.
Areas in Northern California and Southern Oregon are facing up to 16 inches of rain, which has the potential for life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
At one point, over 700,000 homes and business lost power in the U.S. and 70,000 in Canada. Power has been restored to many but almost 300,000 are still without. Schools are also closed in the effected areas.
Debris and downed trees are widespread. One Amtrak train collided with a fallen tree, leaving it inoperable, but thankfully, no injuries are reported among passengers or staff.
Storm conditions are forecasted to continue through the rest of the week.
By - FZ
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